Sony sold 2 million PSVR units in just over a year

12/07/2017 - 12:24 [1]

Sony sold 2 million PSVR units just over a year since launching the headset, as well as claiming over 70 million PS4s sold.

AOL/Devindra Hardawar

Sony's PlayStation 4 has continued to sell well, and just broke 70 million consoles sold. That shouldn't be a big surprise given its market trajectory, moving past 60 million systems in June and 50 million a year ago. More importantly, it shows that Microsoft's cheaper Xbox One S and supercharged Xbox One X released last month haven't noticeably diminished Sony's console sales. But more notable is news about the PSVR, which has moved 2 million units since it launched in fall 2016.

Until now, we haven't really known how successful Sony's VR headset has been. The device launched as a cheaper mid-grade option between top-tier desktop computer systems like Oculus VR ($400) or HTC Vive ($600) and far cheaper smartphone-based units like Google's Daydream or Samsung's Gear VR. Instead, PSVR relies on the PS4 and more powerful PS4 Pro, and Sony's headset broke 1 million units sold last June.

According to analysts, the PSVR took almost 50 percent of the million VR units sold in Q3 2017, beating out the Oculus Rift's 21 percent share and HTC Vive's 16 percent cut. Today's PSVR news means it's continued to move a not-insignificant number of units for a $350-plus-additions device. But it's still leading a niche market. As we pointed out on the PSVR's one-year anniversary, it has sold almost 10 million games for its system but has yet to release a killer must-have game to bring more than a fraction of the tens of millions of PS4 owners into the fold.